Toolstation NCEL Division One
Pontefract Collieries 2-0 Hallam
Pontefract Collieries celebrate Chris Wood’s goal. Picture: Twitter: @dribblingcode
Title-chasing Pontefract Collieries celebrated their seventh consecutive league victory after a crucial win over promotion rivals Hallam.
Headers from Chris Jackson and Chris Wood in either half extended Ponte’s lead at the top to six points.
The sending off of Hallam goalkeeper David Darwent, who was celebrating his 40th birthday, was a major moment. Darwent saw red following a moment of madness involving former Hallam striker Jordan Turner as the Colls prepared to take a corner.
It meant star player Jake Currie had to go in goal, but in truth, Hallam did not look like a side with ten men. There was little between the sides and Jackson’s deadlock breaker deep into first half injury-time was a huge sucker punch for the visitors.
The second half continued in the same vain with few chances. There must have been a few Ponte fans who were nervous as the clock ticked towards 90, fearing that Hallam might equalise.
Those fears were rested when deadly Wood rose to head home from a corner.
The Teams
Pontefract Collieries: Saynor, Greenhough, Jeffs, Seed, Clarke, Williams, Cotton, Haigh, Turner, Jackson, Reece. Subs: Wood, Stapleton, Stratford, Dunn.
Hallam: Darwent, Greaves, Whittaker, Mirfin, Minfoft, Phillips, Reed, Beaumont, Blythen, Watson, Currie. Subs: Brammer, Bates, Knowles, Ord, Bishop.